The Advancement Centre of Bells University of Technology, Ota, has put together yet another eye-opening seminar on securing effective University Ranking, themed: – Strategies for Impactful University Ranking: Positioning Research, Teaching, and Community Development into The United Nations SDGs, at the BUPF International Conference Centre, on Wednesday, 5th July 2023, by 12:00 pm.
Speaking at the seminar was Resource Person and Dean School of Postgraduate Studies, Landmark University, Omu Aran, Kwara state, Professor Babatunde O. Adebesin.
To begin the seminar, the Acting Director, Advancement Centre, Bells University, Dr Kayode E. Ogunsola gave the welcome address, where he appreciated the University Management, staff and the Deans and Professors of the different colleges for gracing the occasion despite their busy schedules.
Dr Ogunsola explained that the seminar was organised to enlighten the University on how to put Bells University on Times Higher Education Rankings (THE) globally. He emphasised that Universities are putting strategic plans in place so as to achieve University Ranking status, and Bells University is keying into this.
Dr Ogunsola also stated that the humble efforts the University are already yielding impressive results, like the recently released THE Rankings in Sub-Saharan Africa, ranking Bells University in the top 50-60 Universities in the region. He further noted that with the steady growth of the University, there is hope for Bells Tech getting ranked in the THE world ranking in the next 4-5 years.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof Francis Cheo, representing the Chief Host and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Jeremiah O. Ojediran, R.E. (COREN), FNSE, FNIAE, commended the Advancement Centre for organising the enlightening seminar. He said that the University has units and centres that are helping to make the University achieve good rankings, adding that better Ranking status is possible for BellsTech.
Prof Babatunde O. Adebesin, also the Former Director, Centre for Research Innovation and Discoveries in Landmark University, began his presentation with the different types of Rankings that exist today, of which Global Rankings was the focus of his presentation. He stated that the missing link between the three traditional significant roles of Higher Education which are Teaching, Research, and Community Ranking, was Enterprising, calling it the fourth element of Higher Education.
Prof Adebesin presented various statistics including SDGs in Nigeria, which showed that the country was behind on the charts, ranking 139 out of 163 countries. He expressed that he was pleased Bells University had a Centre for Climate change, showing the University’s commitment to drive Sustainability. The statistics further reflected Bells Tech performance with publications on SCOPUS and SCIVAL, showing the strengths of the University as well as the areas that needed improvement.
While the Guest Speaker lauded the University for the increasing progress in publications online, he advised the University to watch out as the citation per publication is on the decline, and citation count, shaky. Prof Adebesin congratulated the University for having a huge chunk of publications from the total publications (6.2% out of 10.4%) in the country.
Then, Prof Adebesin expounded on how each Sustainable Development Goal can be adopted in research in the University, and thereby boost the Bells Tech presence in Rankings globally. He encouraged the University to adopt each SDG, grouping them under the four colleges of the institution, instead of one or a few, as this would further reflect their association with the goals to the THE Rankings.
Moreover, the Guest Speaker shared the protocols and structure put in place in Landmark University to ensure that the University gains good Ranking. Prof Adebesin encouraged Bells Tech to establish a seperate department, made up of faculty of the institution, dedicated to the University’s Ranking. He said that faculty could be shared into SDG groups or clusters according to their fields, there should be follow ups for all groups.
Further more, Prof Adebesin advised that different practices could be adopted in Bells University to ensure effective ranking, such as encouraging all faculty to belong to at least one SDG group. He also said that the Corporate Affairs Unit should cover SDG events on campus and save them on University’s website and platforms, to serve as a form of archives. More also, SDGs should be boldly specified on fliers or posters of SDG events in the University.
Finally, Prof Adebesin advised the University about making submissions to the THE World Ranking. He stated that a seperate email could be dedicated to data submission to THE Rankings. An officer should be in charge of the email, and report directly to the Vice-Chancellor, and both would communicate with THE Ranking on behalf of the University.